Kerala: LDF finalises seat sharing, UDF talks on

The ruling Left Democratic Front in Kerala on Monday finalised the seat-sharing exercise among its constituents for all 140 assembly segments for the April 13 polls with lead partner Communist Party of India-Marxist getting the lion's share of 93.

On the other hand, the Congress-led United Democratic Front is still struggling to seal seat agreements with its allies like the Kerala Congress-M and Socialist Janata-Democratic, which are demanding more seats than the Congress has offered them.

LDF convenor Vaikom Viswan told reporters that out of the 93 seats allocated by the Front to the CPI-M, the party would be fielding independents in eight segments as it did in the 2006 polls.

The Front has earmarked 27 seats to CPI, five to Janata Dal-Secular, four each to Revolutionary Socialist Party and Nationalist Congress Party, three each to Kerala Congress-Thomas faction and Indian National League and one to Congress-S.

The CPI-M is expected to take a decision on the crucial question whether Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan should be fielded again to lead the LDF at its state committee meeting scheduled for March 16.

In the UDF, Kerala Congress-Mani scaled down from its earlier demand for 22 seats, but still insisted that it should get at least 18 seats. The Socialist Janata-Democratic led by M P Veerendrakumar continued to press for 12 seats, a demand which was unacceptable to the Congress.

Congress sources said the talks with the partners were continuing and a settlement was expected in a day or two.